Polls Open At 7 A.m. Today New Smyrna Beach To Pick Mayor, 3 City Commissioners

March 29, 1988

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Polls open at 7 a.m. today in a citywide election to choose a mayor and three city commissioners.

Up for re-election is Mayor George Musson, 58, a retired businessman, who is being challenged by building contractor Ben Vazquez, 61. They are running for a two-year term.

Zone 1 City Commissioner Lois Brickley, 63, a retired teacher and librarian, is seeking a second four-year term. Her challenger is political newcomer Doug Davich, 36. He is an instructor at Daytona Beach Community College and a former member of the city's Growth Management Committee.

Incumbent Zone 2 Commissioner Ray Trovato, 62, a retired retailer, faces opposition from James Vandergrifft, 43, owner of a fruit and gift business. They are competing for a four-year term.

Zone 4 Commissioner Guy Williams resigned effective April 4, the date of the city's organizational meeting when new commissioners will be sworn in.

Two political newcomers are competing for the unexpired two years on Williams' term. They are Oretha Bell, 62, a retired school librarian; and Emmett C. Ross, 78, a retired industrial manager.

City election supervisor Linda Schaidt said 166 absentee ballots were issued and 97 had been returned by noon Monday. There are 9,459 registered voters eligible to participate in the election, she said.

Election returns will be tabulated in the city manager's office at city hall, 210 Sams Ave. Incumbent commission members, sitting as the elections board, will go over the votes, including the absentees, at 8:30 p.m. in the Mainland Shuffleboard Club, across Julia Street from city hall.